Warhammer 40K Meta Hotness: Leman Russ w/Plasma Executioner
Leman Russ tanks are back with a vengeance in the new Astra Militarum codex that should be reaching your happy little hands soon.
Some events allowed you to play with the new Astra Militarum rules in the Cadia Stands boxed set, and today I want to chat a bit about why this tank is going to wreck your business.
The Leman Russ has a rather rough body that is hard to chew thru with its decent amount of wounds, high toughness, and 2+ armor save. On top of that, you add a bunch of good rules to allow it to shoot you all the time and be a pain to get rid of. Oh – and you can take multiples of the same one in a single choice allowing you to spam a ton of them.
Leman Russ 101
Hey it’s a tough tank that has had a weird life in the last few editions. It was always there, got access to squadrons, and was always an example of 40K rules nonsense when people looked it up online. You would always see some type of Leman Russ with a Commissar hanging out the top shouting Imperial dogma at its enemies. It is a symbol of 40K swagger and this version just continues by amping up its power and keeping it cheap enough to spam more than 3.
The Leman Russ Shoots…a LOT
These tanks got a nice upgrade in Turret Weapon subtypes which allows them to shoot other models, not in engagement range and get a flat +1 to hit with them. This is huge as it doesn’t get stuck in combat anymore and is always viable for shooting. It can move up, get in the way, and still pound the enemy with its Plasma and giant bullets of death as needed.
The Leman Russ is Hard to Kill
Oh, it’s also tough as heck with a toughness of 8, 13 wounds, and a 2+ armor save. Thank goodness AOC went away or this monster would just be so hard to remove on the tabletop. You throw on some Psychics and other options, and it is going to sit there stubbornly blocking anything the enemy wants to do.
Sample List
Here is a sample list from New Year’s Knockout 2023, a 52-player, 5-round Grand Tournament in Shawnee, Kansas US on January 14, 2023. This list was piloted by Dan Sammons who is known to run some pretty rough meta-chasing lists. Look at this monster and know this is going to show up a lot more – especially with the Lord Solar as well.
Astra Militarum
Regimental Doctrine: Born Soldiers
++Supreme Command Detachment++
Lord Solar Leontus – 170pts – Warlord
++Batallion Detachment++
HQ
Cadian Command Squad – 75pts – Standard, Medi-pack, Master Vox, Meltagun, Powersword, Bolt Pistol, Final of the Nemrodesh 1st (-1cp)
Tank Commander – 165pts – Gatekeeper (-1cp), Lascannon
Tank Commander – 180pts – Executioner Plasma Cannon, Lascannon, Two Heavy Flamers, Armoured Tracks, Master Tactician (-1cp)
Troops
Cadian Shock Troops – 65pts – 2x Plasma Guns, Vox-caster
Cadian Shock Troops – 65pts – 2x Plasma Guns, Vox-caster
Cadian Shock Troops – 65pts – 2x Plasma Guns, Vox-caster
Elites
Kasrkin – 100pts – 2x Hot-Shot Volley Guns, Hot-Shot Marksman Rifle, Vox-Caster, Chainsword, Hot-Shot Laspistol, The Barbicant’s Key (-1cp), Heirloom Weapons
Kasrkin – 100pts – 2x Hot-Shot Volley Guns, Hot-Shot Marksman Rifle, Vox-Caster, Chainsword, Hot-Shot Laspistol, Recon Operators
Kasrkin – 100pts – 2x Hot-Shot Volley Guns, Hot-Shot Marksman Rifle, Vox-Caster, Chainsword, Hot-Shot Laspistol, Veteran Guerrillas
Fast Attack
Scout Sentinels – 40pts – Plasma Cannon
Scout Sentinels – 40pts – Plasma Cannon
Heavy Support
3x Leman Russ Battle Tanks – 495pts – Executioner Plasma Cannon, Lascannon, Two Heavy Bolters
1x Leman Russ Battle Tanks – 170pts – Executioner Plasma Cannon, Three Heavy Flamers, Armoured Tracks
1x Leman Russ Battle Tanks – 170pts – Executioner Plasma Cannon, Three Heavy Flamers, Armoured Tracks
2000pts, 2cp
For Sigmar… erm… The Emperor!
Leman Russ Treadheads FTW
Here you see 7 Leman Russ with 6 of them being the Plasma Executioner and the other being a Relic Battle Cannon. As you can tell, this is most likely going to be the one hit with a Nerf Bat, as it currently seems hyper-efficient to show up as much as it does.
With the new Lord Solar as an amazing “order” battery and the other Commander options, you are going to see lists like this a lot. The battlefield is going to look like a Leman Russ dealership with all the Cadian soldiers trying to sell you an upgrade or two. That all-terrain package is included from the dealership, as well as 10 free Oil Changes.
This tank is just very good and does a ton of damage behind a very powerful set of protections due to being tough as heck. You throw in Orders and Stratagems, and players should be scared to see squadrons of them on the tabletop.
For the Emperor!
